The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

“Bhishma said, ’In this connection is
cited the old narrative of Panchasikha who was a Bhikshu
in his practices and Janaka. Once on a time Janaka,
the ruler of the Videhas, questioned the great Rishi
Panchasikha, who was the foremost of all persons conversant
with the Vedas and who had all his doubts removed
in respect of the purpose and import of all duties.
The King said,—­By what conduct, O holy one
may one transcend decrepitude and death? It is
by penances, or by the understanding, or by religious
acts (like sacrifices, and vows), or by study and knowledge
of the scriptures?—­Thus addressed by the
ruler of the Vedas the learned Panchasikha, conversant
with all invisible things, answered, saying,—­There
is no prevention of these two (viz., decrepitude and
death); nor is it true that cannot be prevented under
any circumstances. Neither days, nor nights,
nor months, cease to go on. Only that man, who,
though transitory, betakes himself to the eternal path
(of the religion of Nivritti or abstention from all
acts) succeeds in avoiding birth and death. Destruction
overtakes, all creatures. All creatures seem to
be ceaselessly borne along the infinite current of
time. Those that are borne along the infinite
current of time which is without a raft (to rescue)
and which is infested by those two mighty alligators,
viz., decrepitude and death, sink down without
anybody coming to their assistance. As one is
swept along that current, one fails to find any friend
for help and one fails to be inspired with interest
for any one else. One meets with spouses and
other friends only on one’s road. One had
never before enjoyed this kind of companionship with
any one for any length of time. Creatures, as
they are borne along the current of time, become repeatedly
attracted towards one another like masses of clouds
moved by the wind meeting one another with loud sound.
Decrepitude and death are devourers of all creatures,
like wolves. Indeed, they devour the strong and
the weak, the short and the tall. Among creatures,
therefore, which are all so transitory, only the Soul
exists eternally. Why should he, then, rejoice
when creatures are born and why should he grieve when
they die? Whence have I come. Who am I?
Whither shall I go? Whose am I? Before what
do I rest? What shall I be? For what reason
then dost thou grieve for what? Who else then
thou wilt behold heaven or hell (for what thou doest)?
Hence, without throwing aside the scriptures, one
should make gifts and perform sacrifices!—­”

SECTION CCCXXI

“Yudhishthira said, ’Without abandoning
the domestic mode of life, O royal sage of Kuru’s
race, who ever attained to Emancipation which is the
annihilation of the Understanding (and the other faculties)?
Do tell me this! How may the gross and the subtile
form be cast off? Do thou also, O grandsire,
tell me what the supreme excellence of Emancipation
is.’